Thursday, June 3, 2004

Reds defeat Marlins 7-6 in extra innings
MIAMI Adam Dunn homered twice, including a tiebreaking drive in the 10th inning, and Ken Griffey Jr. homered for the third time in five games to lead the Cincinnati Reds over the Florida Marlins 7-6 Tuesday night.

Small book pictures big animals well
Whale watching has become one of Alaska's favorite sightseeing opportunities. Nothing quite compares to the awed thrill of getting close to the planet's biggest animals. But few people have that experience. And even those who do have difficulty conveying it to others.

Josh Groban happy under the radar
NEW YORK Josh Groban's latest album has outsold the likes of Britney Spears, Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, and dates on his spring tour sold out in a couple of hours.

What's Happening
Best BetsEvents and ExhibitsEntertainmentUpcoming EventsFilmsDown the RoadAnchorage Events

Legislators face challenges
JUNEAU Dozens of Alaskans signed up for federal and state legislative races by the 5 p.m. filing deadline Tuesday.

Move to privatize flight stations should concern all Alaskans
The government has spent millions of dollars on a study to privatize Flight Service Stations in the Lower 48, currently under government control, part of the Federal Aviation Administration. This privatization was scheduled to occur after November's presidential election, but currently has been proposed to occur before the presidential elections.

Governor must keep hearing state must live within its means
The special session that Gov. Frank Murkowski has called is an insult to us all! He could not trust in the collective decision of our representatives and the senators to determine the feasibility and productivity of this costly measure.

Stamp Out Hunger drive donations appreciated
On behalf of the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank board of directors and staff, we wish to express our thanks and gratitude to the National Association of Letter Carriers and the United States Postal Service as they collected nonperishable food items May 8. Thank you to all of you who left canned goods by your mailbox.

Constitution, logic prohibit creating special class of anglers
I would like to address the local vs. non-local or guided vs. non-guided issue. Some of our public committees are at this time attempting to address this important issue, so I have painted a watercolor painting regarding the issue. It is located at http://www.alaskadons.com/images/busnonresident2.gif.

Hockey association says thanks for entire community's support
At this time I would like to recognize and thank the following sponsors for the 2003-2004 Kenai Peninsula Hockey Association season: Arby's for the Atoms and Mini Mite teams, Redline Sports for both Mite teams, Dr. Barton for the Mite C and Squirt C teams, The Floor Center for the Squirt B team, Agrium for the Squirt B and Mite C teams, Wells Fargo for the Pee Wee teams, First National Bank of Anchorage for PeeWee C, Kenai River Sport Fishing Association for the Pee Wee B team, Old Grey Mare Antiques and Gift for the Bantams, All American Electric for the Midget U-16 team, Unocal for Midget U-16 C and Spenard Builders Supply for the U-17 Midget C team.

Newsmaker: Ryan Newman
DOVER, Del. Ryan Newman swept both races last year at the Dover International Speedway and this Sunday's MBNA 400 Salute to Heroes comes as Newman is still looking for his first victory of the season. Ranked ninth in the Nextel Cup Series point standings, the third-year driver knows he needs to start putting together consistent finishes in the top 10 to assure himself a spot in the "Chase for the Championship" in the final 10 races.

Photo feature: Feeling green
Young ferns carpet the ground in the Kenai Mountains earlier this week. Warm, moist weather has sped the transition from winter to summer.

Peninsula candidates file for races
As of 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, the state Division of Elections reported the following candidates had filed for Kenai Peninsula legislative seats and Alaska's U.S. Senate and House seats:

Voters will get say on police
Nikiski area voters will get to decide in October whether the community needs better law enforcement than it currently gets relying on an overstretched Alaska State Trooper force.

Soldotna man tagged in fish scam
An advertisement on a Poacher's Cove community bulletin board led to the arrest and conviction of a Soldotna man for running an illegal fish processing and sales facility, according to Alaska State Troopers.

Photo feature: Hanging out
Oralee Nudson takes in the view from the boardwalk on the Kenai River flats alongside Bridge Access Road last week. "I'm just killing time before going to work," she said.

Henri W. 'Hank' Maillard III
Sterling resident Henri W. "Hank" Maillard III died Friday, May 28, 2004, at his home in Sterling after a long-term illness. He was 66.

Debby Best
Debby Best died Tuesday, May 11, 2004, after a battle with cancer at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital. She was 68.

Robert 'Bobby' Lance Bushnell
Kenai resident Robert "Bobby" Lance Bushnell died Saturday, May 29, 2004, at the Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage, due to injuries sustained while he was riding his bicycle in Kenai on May 21. He was 10.

Grace Marie Phipps
Grace Marie Phipps of Salunga, Pa., died Saturday, May 29, 2004, at Lancaster General Hospital in Pennsylvania of natural causes. She was 86.

Dolores Anne Lee
Homer resident Dolores Anne Lee died Monday, May 31, 2004, at Providence Medical Center in Anchorage due to heart failure. She was 75.

Oilers ready to take the field
Two dozen Soldotna business leaders got a firsthand look at "Scoop," the new Peninsula Oilers' mascot who made a surprise appearance during the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce luncheon meeting Tuesday.

Hunger is problem even on peninsula, but you can help
It's hard to escape the irony. Obesity currently is one of the biggest health problems in the United States. At the same time, all over the country, including the Kenai Peninsula, people are going to bed hungry.

Candidates can't forget intangible of 'likability'
Both the George W. Bush and the John Kerry campaigns should remember political history and note that in 1984, President Ronald Reagan won re-election and defeated former Vice President Walter Mondale not based on any one issue, but more on a vital intangible.

Lack of legislative action behind call for special session
After saying he would and then saying he wouldn't, Gov. Frank Murkowski ... said he will call a special session of the Alaska Legislature to focus on pressing issues, such as the state's fiscal gap, increased tobacco taxes, worker's compensation laws and capital projects.

Around the Peninsula
Hunger Awareness Day set for ThursdayMissions fund-raiser setFrontier Community directors to meetMasons to hold charity golf tourneyRiver festival seeking artists, runnersKenai pool offers swim lessonsLangdon basketball camp set for Seward

Sentiment props up a legend only so long
The greatest champion any game has ever known has been dropping hints for months that he's done playing. At 64, Jack Nicklaus is not tired of golf as much as he is tired of trying to convince himself he can still win.

Argentine trio makes semifinals
PARIS (AP) Gustavo Kuerten's right hip hurt, plain and simple. A shot, a sprint, a lunge: Each was enough to cause pain, making his task that much tougher against a determined David Nalbandian in the French Open quarterfinals.